Review: Katy Perry OPI Shatter nail polish

Going to the Katy Perry concert Friday? Perhaps you can suck up to the lady herself by flashing a freshly manicured finger from the crowd. You'll get swept off the floor by eager roadies and ushered backstage where you'll party with Perry until the sun cracks the night sky.

Or... probably not. But you can get in the spirit of the concert by trying the nail polish Perry's endorsing -- Shatter by OPI. I picked up a bottle recently and gave it a swipe this weekend. It comes in six shades, but Katy Perry endorses the black version, which I think is the most striking. It's $8.50 at beauty stores -- I got mine at Trade Secret in Westshore Plaza.

You need at least three bottles of polish to make this work best -- a bottom shade, the Shatter and a clear top coat. The bottom shade can be whatever you like. I picked a neon teal to contrast with the black. The top coat, you'll find, locks it all in and takes the black from matte and dull to shiny and awesome. I know you're impatient, but wait for each coat to dry before proceeding with the next, unless you like dealing with messy globs of horror.

Here's the finished product on my short, stubby fingers. I love how it looks, and I think it would look even better on someone with long, glamorous nails.

It's so magical to watch the Shatter do its thing. It instantly breaks from a solid layer of black into this cool, almost animal texture. It's like witchcraft! Who at OPI sold their soul to make this happen?

The best part, though, is the reckless abandon with which you can paint. Think about it. The bottom layer doesn't have to be great because you're going to cover it. The middle layer doesn't have to be great because it's going to shatter into a million pieces. And the top layer doesn't have to be great because it's clear. No more must we worry about a gorgeous left hand, followed by a right hand that looks like it was painted during an earthquake.

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Looking for shopping deals in Tampa Bay? The Deal Divas are on the prowl, sniffing out hot fashion finds that won't leave your wallet in ruins. Now you never have to miss a shopping deal! Check in often for the lowdown on local bargains, as well as fashion advice, fun photos and style news. Disclaimer: The content of this blog is produced by the editorial staff of the Times and is not tied to advertising. E-mail us ideas you'd like us to write about.

Stephanie Hayes , addicted to heels for 15 years, has been experimenting with ballet flats, boots and cute sneakers lately. Her poor, tired feet thank her. She can never get enough animal print, and her eye shadow collection has become a bit of a hoard. While other kids were reciting multiplication tables, she was learning to calculate an extra third off the half-price discount during buy-one-get-one week. She knows a healthy swipe of red lipstick can make any outfit better. She can be reached at (813) 226-3394 or shayes@tampabay.com.

Katie Sanders foolishly spurned pretty dresses and shoes as a child, tossing new clothes over her shoulder at birthday parties with a totally rude "no, thank you." Her drab days of monocolor outfits are over now, and she certainly knows better than to turn down free stuff. Her wardrobe mixes classic with quirk. Think blazers with statement necklaces, and lots of patterned ballet flats. She can be reached at (850) 224-7263 or ksanders@tampabay.com..

Kameel Stanley has never encountered a thrift store she didn’t like. Her mother taught her that the true value of clothes isn’t how much they cost, but how many outfits one can create from them. Having grown up in Michigan, she was delighted to learn upon moving to Florida that she almost never needed to wear socks or boots again. There’s a lot of turnover in her closet, and she’s obsessed with dresses, necklaces and wedge heels. She can be reached at (727) 893-8643 or kstanley@tampabay.com.

From camo pants and construction boots to sundresses, sweaters and sling backs, Keyonna Summers knows how to make all of it rock -- at rock bottom prices. A Detroit native, Keyonna delves into her urban roots to find fashion pairings that give a nod to street fashion while maintaining the class of the modern, professional woman. She believes in searching for affordable clothes that look expensive and can easily be dressed up or down. You won't find plaid shirts or fleece jackets in her closet; the only hiking Keyonna does is to the bargain basement. She can be reached at (727) 445-4153 or ksummers@tampabay.com.